Hahn Announces Candidacy for Commonwealth's Attorney

Saturday, May 07, 2011

Former York County’s Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Benjamin Hahn announced Thursday he intends to run for his boss’ seat as Commonwealth’s Attorney for York and Poquoson.

Hahn, aiming to pick up the Republican nomination, resigned his position on April 28. Commonwealth’s Attorney Eileen Addison, the Republican incumbent, asked Hahn to leave the office immediately when she found out his intent to run for her job.

Addison has been the target of two inquiries by the state bar. Last year the bar launched an investigation on charges of prosecutorial misconduct and later exonerated her, and this year she’s again under scrutiny based on allegations she purposely did not disclose evidence.

Hahn told WYDaily Friday that his run is related to Addison’s behavior. “There needs to be a complete change of emphasis in the office,” he said.

Hahn intends to “restore honor and integrity to the Office of Commonwealth’s Attorney by strict adherence to the prosecutor’s ethical duty to seek justice, not merely conviction,” according to Friday’s press release.

Hahn doesn’t want to focus on Addison’s conduct during his campaign, though, he said. “I want to try to keep to the issues of the race.”

Aside from restoring honor and integrity to the office, Hahn pledges to “respect and assist the law enforcement officers who protect and serve our community, ensure that citizen victims are not abandoned to prosecute misdemeanor crimes on their own when the defendant is represented by counsel, and aggressively, but fairly, prosecute the guilty within the bounds of the United States Constitution and the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

Before his role as Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney, Hahn spent 16 years as City Attorney for Poquoson and maintained a private practice at the same time.

In his most recent position, Hahn prosecuted various criminal offenses ranging from capital murder to trespass. He also collected thousands of dollars by securing forfeiture of the assets of drug dealers. For the past year, in addition to carrying a full trial docket, Hahn had the sole responsibility for prosecution of felony cases involving the distribution of illegal drugs.

Addison told WYDaily Friday she intends to run for reelection. When asked if he felt that he had a chance to unseat an incumbent, Hahn said, “I have been told by many that I have an excellent chance of success.”